Rev 9 is where Lennon's head was at. It's an interesting, well-constructed collage. Ditch it for Jude? - no way.

If you're going to ditch anything for Jude, try Martha My Dear & Rocky Raccoon - for me, those two songs are a bit of a waste of space. Imagine if they had not surfaced officially, and turned up only on boots! We'd all be saying, "good decision boys, not to release THOSE songs"!

Rev 9 is where Lennon's head was at. It's an interesting, well-constructed collage. Ditch it for Jude? - no way.

If you're going to ditch anything for Jude, try Martha My Dear & Rocky Raccoon - for me, those two songs are a bit of a waste of space. Imagine if they had not surfaced officially, and turned up only on boots! We'd all be saying, "good decision boys, not to release THOSE songs"!

OK: Rocky's story line is a total cliche. Nice tune though. But the story makes it a bit of a bore, frankly.

And Martha My Dear is almost certainly NOT about Paul's wretched sheep dog. I have always thought it felt more like it was addressed to Jane Asher (a common interpretation when the WA came out). I feel that Paul may have used the name of Martha (a female dog's name) to say that Jane was a "b i tc h". In any case, the song is to me a weakie.

Post edited as b i t c h was censored to b****. I inserted spaces to fool the censor.

OK: Rocky's story line is a total cliche. Nice tune though. But the story makes it a bit of a bore, frankly.

And Martha My Dear is almost certainly NOT about Paul's wretched sheep dog. I have always thought it felt more like it was addressed to Jane Asher (a common interpretation when the WA came out). I feel that Paul may have used the name of Martha (a female dog's name) to say that Jane was a "b i tc h". In any case, the song is to me a weakie.

Post edited as b i t c h was censored to b****. I inserted spaces to fool the censor.

Well, we can assume all we want about Martha My Dear, and that's clever of you to point that out (and I don't mean that sarcastically -- that's quite an interpretation ), but until Paul changes his mind, I would say it's about his dog. And I can't really debate this one way or the other any further.

As far as Rocky Raccoon goes, I like the Country-Western twist to it, about how he fights in a showdown, gets shot, and then comes back to try again. I don't find many songs like that in the Beatles catalogue anyway, so it's a very welcome addition.

Put it like this: there are many grand and moving love songs, but only one Revolution 9. I can afford to lose Jude.

I'll take Revolution 9, ta very much.

It isn't "love," per se -- it's to Julian saying that everything will be alright in the long-run. I haven't encountered many songs with such an incredible, anthemic coda such as Hey Jude, especially not in the Beatles' catalogue, especially in regards to how it can unite an entire crowd so well. And remember, you won't find many Wild Honey Pies either -- doesn't mean it's good.

But Hey Jude is NOT sung to Julian. It started off as Hey Julian, hey Jules as we all know, as Paul tootled along in his car to visit Cyn & Jules, but the song advanced a LONG way from there.

How can it not be a classic love song? Go out and get her, etc etc. Read the lyrics. Sure it's a love song: one of the great ones too.

A bit more about Martha My Dear. How can it be a song sung to his dog? Listen to the lyrics: "you have always been my inspiration" "don't forget me". Put it this way: it's MUCH MORE likely to be a song to Jane Asher than to his dog!

Rocky Raccoon is underrated in my opinion. That song is unique. Who cares about cliches. I could say that about a lot of their songs. Especially the early ones. But I still love them!! Anyway, has anyone ever heard covers of Rocky? I heard Phish do it and this alternative guy whose name escapes me at the moment. They were both awesome and the audiences were way into it. It's got a lot of potential. I mean, I love it the way it is, but I think a lot of Beatles songs could be played on alternative or modern rock stations if bands did cool covers of them. Then the people who never listen to classic rock stations would discover who these true geniuses are!!! More rambling. So sorry!

Have to say i quite like Martha, the melody and arrangement are very catchy (horrible word I know, but you know what I mean). I never get too hung up on Pauls lyrics (I think he just plays with words that sound nice together), I think with his songs its best to go for the total packageRocky R I like too. Its funny in the same way as Bungalow Bill (which I like, but would drop b4 I'd drop Rocky.)Rev #9-stick it on Zapple John. It don't belong on a Beatles record.

A bit more about Martha My Dear. How can it be a song sung to his dog? Listen to the lyrics: "you have always been my inspiration" "don't forget me". Put it this way: it's MUCH MORE likely to be a song to Jane Asher than to his dog!

I read that it was to his dog too. Martha was the name of his english sheep-dog. I mean you have some points Ydoll but would he say 'Hold your head up you silly girl'? about Jane? Was'nt he just splitting up with Jane around this time? Maybe the dog was the only love he was feelin at the time. Someone who was unaffected by his notoriety. Anyway, Paul is a songwriter...he takes bits from here and there and then....BINGO!